by Maxine GordonKIND-HEARTED pensioners in a York residential home want to turn a benefits blunder into a surprise cash windfall for charity.

Elderly people at Lamel Beeches, a private home in the grounds of the Retreat Hospital, Heslington Road, have received too much cash from the Government's new Winter Fuel Payments.

The money is separate from Cold Weather Payments and goes to all pensioners to help towards the cost of their fuel bills.Pensioners in residential care homes are entitled to a £10 one-off sum.

However, some residents at Lamel Beeches have been given £20 payments - the sum issued to people living in their own homes.They believe the mix-up arose because each resident's room is addressed as a separate flat number, leading benefits staff to assume they lived independently.

Many residents are planning to send the extra cash to their favourite charities. Some are considering keeping the money while others might return it to the Government.

Judith Baker, head of the home, said many residents felt they were not entitled to the payments. The cost of heating the home, jointly owned by the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust and the Retreat, is included in residents' accommodation fees.

Mrs Baker said when she contacted the Benefits' Agency about the blunder she was told to ask the residents to return the money.

Mrs Baker added: "Obviously it depends on people's consciences whether they do it. Our suggestion is to donate it to charity. The majority think that is an excellent idea."

Mrs Baker has also written to York MP, Hugh Bayley, about the mix-up, pointing out the discrepancy comes at a time when the Government is making welfare cuts to "more worthy causes" such as the disabled and single parents.

A resident at the home, who asked not to be named, said she would keep the £10 she was entitled to and send the remainder to her favourite charity.

Another added: "I will definitely not be giving it back to the Government."

A Benefits Agency spokeswoman said the mistake was made because official records showed residents of the home living in separate flats.

She said: "This is the first case of this type which has been recorded." Staff would now be investigating to make sure the problem was ironed out in time for next year's handouts.

And she said residents would not have to pay back the money, unless the payment was received fraudulently.

She added: "We are sorry for any confusion or concern caused."

People with queries about Winter Fuel Payments can contact a helpline on 0645 151515, calls are charged at local rate.

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